(medicine) medicine given to prevent illness, rather than treat it.

(chiefly Canada, medicine) A state of affairs in which patients are assigned to and treated in beds or gurneys located in hospital hallways due to a shortage of hospital rooms.

plural of patent medicine

Synonym of evolutionary medicine

A medicine cabinet.

orphan drug

(medicine) The branch of medicine that uses radioactive isotopes in the diagnosis and treatment of disease.

(informal) traditional Chinese medicine

The combination of mainstream medicine, based on scientific evidence, and alternative medicine.

Any of the aggressive medical practices and methods used until the mid-19th century, particularly the dangerous and unproven treatments that were later replaced by scientific approaches.